Ozothamnus plant named ‘13-15’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Ozothamnus  plant named ‘13-15’, characterized by its upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; short internodes; dense and bushy habit; freely flowering habit; and inflorescences arranged in corymbs with white-colored involucral bracts.

Botanical designation: Ozothamnus diosmifolius.

Cultivar denomination: ‘13-15’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Ozothamnus plant, botanically known as Ozothamnus diosmifolius, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘13-15’.

The new Ozothamnus is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Helidon, Queensland, Australia. The objective of the breeding program is to create vigorous and upright Ozothamnus cultivars with numerous and attractive flowers.

The new Ozothamnus originated from a self-pollination made by the Inventors in Helidon, Queensland, Australia in 1993, of the Ozothamnus diosmifolius cultivar Pom Pom, not patented. The new Ozothamnus was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated self-pollination grown in a controlled environment in Helidon, Queensland, Australia in March, 1993.

Asexual reproduction of the new Ozothamnus by vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in Helidon, Queensland, Australia since 1994, has shown that the unique features of this new Ozothamnus are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar 13-15 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘13-15’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘13-15’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Ozothamnus:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Short internodes; dense and bushy habit.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Inflorescences arranged in corymbs with white-colored         involucral bracts.

Plants of the new Ozothamnus differ from plants of the parent, the cultivar Pom Pom, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Ozothamnus are more upright than plants of         the cultivar Pom Pom.     -   2. Plants of the new Ozothamnus and the cultivar Pom Pom differ         in involucral bract color as plants of the cultivar Pom Pom have         pink-colored involucral bracts.

Plants of the new Ozothamnus can be compared to plants of the Ozothamnus cultivar Just Blush, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Helidon, Queensland, Australia, plants of the new Ozothamnus differed from plants of the cultivar Just Blush in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Ozothamnus were taller and more upright         than plants of the cultivar Just Blush.     -   2. Plants of the new Ozothamnus and the cultivar Just Blush         differed in involucral bract color as plants of the cultivar         Just Blush had pink-colored involucral bracts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Ozothamnus. The photographs show the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Ozothamnus.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘13-15’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical corymb of ‘13-15’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Bonsall, Calif. during the autumn in an outdoor nursery and under conditions and practices which approximate those generally used in commercial Ozothamnus production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 18° C. to 38° C. and night temperatures ranged from 13° C. to 24° C. Measurements and numerical values represent averages for typical flowering plants. Plants were about five months old when the photographs and description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Ozothamnus diosmifolius cultivar 13-15. -   Parentage: Self-pollination of a unnamed selection of Ozothamnus     diosmifolius, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two to three weeks.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About six to             eight weeks.         -   Root description.—Fine; fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/growth habit.—Upright plant habit; inverted             triangle. Vigorous growth habit. Short internodes; dense and             bushy habit. Freely branching habit with about five to six             lateral branches per plant with numerous secondary and             tertiary lateral branches.         -   Plant height.—About 46 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 45 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 60 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.             Internode length: About 4 cm. Aspect: Upright to somewhat             outwardly spreading. Strength: Strong. Texture, developing:             Pubescent. Texture, mature: Woody. Color, developing: 146C.             Color, mature: 199A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate to whorled; simple; sessile.         -   Length.—About 1.8 cm.         -   Width.—About 1 mm.         -   Shape.—Acicular.         -   Apex.—Mucronate.         -   Base.—Attenuate, clasping.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Rough, granular.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Single midvein.         -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: 137A. Developing             foliage, lower surface: 148B. Fully expanded foliage, upper             surface: 147A; venation, 147A. Fully expanded foliage, lower             surface: 148B; venation, 148B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Composite inflorescence form without ray             florets; inflorescences arranged in terminal and axillary             corymbs; corymbs hemispherical. Inflorescences face upright             to outward. Freely flowering habit; about 50 inflorescences             and inflorescence buds per corymb. Inflorescences             persistent. Inflorescences faintly fragrant, straw-like.         -   Time to flower.—Under mild weather conditions, plants will             flower year-round in Southern California. Inflorescences             last about three to four weeks on the plant.         -   Inflorescence bud.—Height: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Shape: Rounded. Color: 155A.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 3.2 cm to 3.8 mm. Depth             (height): About 4 cm. Disc diameter: About 3 mm. Receptacle             diameter: About 4 mm. Receptacle height: About 4 mm.         -   Ray florets.—Ray floret development has not been observed.         -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; apex dentate. Length: About             4 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Number of disc florets per             inflorescence: About 38. Color, immature and mature: Apex:             Close to 155A. Mid-section and base: Close to 145D.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 36 arranged in             about five to six whorls. Length: About 3 mm. Width: About             2 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color, immature, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 155D             tinted with 65C. Color, mature, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 155D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Diameter: About             1 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to about 45°.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 145A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per disc floret:             Five. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther length: About 1.5 mm.             Anther color: Close to 155A. Filament length: About 2 mm.             Filament color: Close to 155A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen             color: Close to 155A. Gynoecium: Quantity per disc floret:             One. Pistil length: About 3 mm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted.             Stigma color: Close to 155A. Style length: About 1.5 mm.             Style color: Close to 155A. Ovary color: Close to 145C.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Ozothamnus have not been     shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Ozothamnus. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Ozothamnus have exhibited good     tolerance to rain and wind and have been observed to tolerate     temperatures from about −5° C. to about 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct Ozothamnus plant named ‘13-15’ as illustrated and described. 